How many times have we heard praised the qualities of Italy as the perfect place for a holiday, perhaps from friends abroad?
In terms of experiences to enjoy, Italy is one of the places with the highest density of natural and man-made beauties. Between nature’s gifts and buildings constructed centuries ago, Italy is dotted with secrets that can turn into wonderful ideas for a weekend getaway or even just a half-day,
For this reason, today we’ve decided to show you some experiences to enjoy linked to the territory of Central Italy. In this case, we aimed to be as varied as possible, talking about small villages, large gardens, lush coastlines, and many other things that might not be on everyone’s lips but deserve one or more days of your time.
So let’s not waste time chatting and discover what’s beautiful in Central Italy.
The Lentil Bloom at Castelluccio di Norcia (Umbria/Marche/Lazio)
If you love colors and don’t mind getting stuck in traffic on steep mountain roads, well, you’ve found the perfect spot. Castelluccio di Norcia is a hamlet of the Norcia municipality and one of the highest inhabited centers in the Apennines. Despite the 2016 Amatrice earthquake making much of the town uninhabitable, it’s hard not to be enchanted by the spectacle visible across the plains surrounding the hill., well, you’ve found the perfect place for you. Castelluccio di Norcia is a hamlet in the municipality of Norcia and is one of the highest inhabited centers in the Apennines. Despite the 2016 Amatrice earthquake rendering much of the village uninhabitable, it’s hard not to be enchanted by the spectacle that can be admired across the plains surrounding the hill on which the village sits.
plain of Castelluccio, in fact, is used as cultivated fields for lentils and other seeds. These bloom in an unmissable spectacle, attracting crowds of tourists from all over Central Italy. Anyone interested in a scenic route should try reaching Castelluccio from the Marche side, starting from Montegallo. This road, in fact, circles Monte Vettore offering a spectacle of rare beauty.
Visiting the Trabocchi Coast (Abruzzo)
There’s a stretch of the Adriatic Sea roughly from Ortona to Vasto characterized by unique wooden structures. These, resembling stilt houses in shape and structure, actually have a specific name: trabocchi. Originally, trabocchi were stationary fishing platforms used for hundreds of years by local fishermen. These fishermen, called traboccanti, used them as their main means of livelihood in the absence of boats.
Today, about 30 trabocchi are scattered along the coast between the two cities mentioned. Some are open to visitors, others have been converted into floating restaurants where you can try local specialties. What’s the best way to experience the magic of the trabocchi? By taking a bike and pedaling along the Via Verde, a cycling path about 50 kilometers long, just steps from the sea, connecting all the trabocchi and towns like San Vito Chietino and Fossacesia Marina which are well worth a visit.
The Abbey of San Galgano and the Sword in the Stone (Tuscany)
Chiusdino is a small Tuscan town with about 1,800 inhabitants in the Sienese countryside and holds a half-secret gem: the Abbey of San Galgano. This is a Cistercian abbeynow in ruins, whose roof collapsed in 1786 after a terrible lightning strike hit the bell tower. Only the walls remain standing, offering an unprecedented spectacle to all visitors. Even more intriguing is the presence of a very evocative artifact: a sword in the stone
. It is located inside the Rotonda di Montesiepi, a hermitage a few hundred meters from the abbey. The sword is said to have been thrust into a rock by Galgano Guidotti(after whom the abbey is named), a local knight who, as a symbol of renouncing his former dissolute life, abandoned his weapon in search of a more pious existence. Rasiglia, the Little Venice of the Mountains (Umbria) Rasiglia
is the name of a
tiny village of houses in Umbria hidden among the mountains separating 50 Colfiorito from Foligno and is well known for its streams and brooks flowing relentlessly through the houses. Rasiglia is characterized by a dense water network, fed by several springs that cross the village, forming waterfalls and small waterways. Before flowing into the Menotre River, the water collects in a large basin called “ and is well known for having small streams and brooks that flow relentlessly among the houses. The village of Rasiglia is characterized by a dense water network. This is linked to the presence of several springs that, crossing the village, form waterfalls and small watercourses. This latter, before flowing into the river The village is very small and can be fully explored in about half a day.Despite this, it’s impossible to miss little gems like the.
Rasiglia Fortress , the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie , theAbbess’s Caves or the nearby (and stunning)Colfiorito Park. The fact that this beautiful place is well connected thanks to the nearby SS77 makes it perfect for day trips for all Central Italy residents. Among the experiences to enjoy is visiting a place that seems frozen in time. Petritoli, the Wedding Town (Marche) It all started with a German tourist couple who, in the mid-2000s, chose to tie the knot in a small inland village in the Marche region, in the province of Fermo. This wedding, helped by a certain
advertising campaign
carried out by the couple, sparked curiosity among many other foreigners who increasingly chose to get married in this small Marche village year after year. Petritoli with its roughly 2,000 inhabitants, actually offers a rich array of sights to see during an afternoon. Entry to the town is through three 19th-century arches enclosed within two 15th-century towers. These lead to the square in front of theformer Clarisse convent,
converted after the war into the Town Hall. The gardens of this former convent, perched above the surrounding valley, are the place used for wedding ceremonies. Missing from the list is thecivic towerthat dominates the upper part of the village. It was built by combining three different shapes: the base is square, the middle section octagonal, and the top rounded with a small brick dome. Climbing this tower is truly one of the experiences to enjoy in the area! Losing Your Heart in the Garden of Ninfa (Lazio) In Cisterna di that dominates the upper part of the village. It was built by combining three different plant shapes: the base of the tower is square, the body above is octagonal, and the top is rounded with a small brick masonry dome. Climbing this tower is truly one of the must-do experiences in the area!
between
Norma and Sermoneta,, there is a garden considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The Garden of Ninfa covers about 8 hectares and is named after a small temple dedicated to the Naiad Nymphs. The temple itself stands on an islet in the heart of this stunning place. The Garden of Ninfa contains the ruins of a Roman-era city of the same name, destroyed during the 1300s by a noble opposed to the family owning the land. The lush nature of the garden is mainly thanks to two figures: Gelasio Caetani and Lelia Caetani. The former made the garden accessible there is a garden considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. The Garden of Ninfa covers about 8 hectares of land and takes its name from a small temple dedicated to the Naiad Nymphs. The temple itself is located at the center of a small island in the middle of this splendid place. The Garden of Ninfa contains the ruins of a Roman-origin city of the same name, a city destroyed during the 1300s by a noble hostile to the family owning the land.
while the latter combined plants and colors inspired by the world of painting. There is no better experience than strolling through a place that seems to have come straight out of a dream. ConclusionsRegion by region, we have tried to list in this article 6 interesting experiences to enjoy if you find yourself in Central Italy. All these experiences can be enjoyed alone or with company; if you seek the latter, we recommend joining one of the events we organize to meet new people with whom to embark on new adventures, regardless of the region you are in. Afterwards, it will be much easier to think about experiences to enjoy together! he combined plants and colors inspired by the world of painting. There are no better experiences than strolling through a place like this that seems to have come out of a dream..
Conclusions
Region by region, we have tried to list in this article 6 interesting experiences to have if you find yourself in central Italy. All these experiences can be enjoyed alone or with company; if you’re looking for the latter, we recommend joining some of the events we organize so you can meet new people with whom to embark on ever-new adventures, regardless of the region you’re in. Afterwards, it will be much easier to think about experiences to share with someone!